Photo Cleaning

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated July 19, 2021)

Cleaning photos is something that most people don't really think about until you need to do it. This usually happens when you pull out a long-forgotten album, look through it, and find a photo that you want to put somewhere else. When you try to remove the photo, you find yourself faced with the dilemma of it not wanting to come out! What to do?

Well, instead of panicking, use one of these methods so that you have a better chance at holding onto your precious memories. However, one thing needs to be noted: Anytime that you attempt photo cleaning or removing an old photo from an album you run the risk of damaging the photo. If you are willing to take this risk, then clean on!

  • Dental floss. Use dental floss to help remove the picture from the album. Simply get a little bit behind one corner, and be patient. Work the dental floss from one end of the photo to the other. This method will remove the photo, but care should be taken. If you do not take care, you can easily find yourself cutting through your photo.
  • Make a copy. The surface of a photo is essentially a gel that can soften over time, and re-harden and become permanently stuck to whatever it is touching. Considering that most methods of removal can leave a little damage, your best bet may be to try getting a good quality digital copy of the photo. After getting the copy, retouch the photo to remove any copy damage, and reprint your photo. Voila, good as new!
  • Soak over night. Try soaking the photo overnight. This should soften the picture enough for removal. Be sure that you are especially careful though. A soaked picture can tear fairly easy, and if not careful you can smear the picture. After removing the picture, set it aside in a safe place to ensure it dries completely.
  • Hire a professional. One of the ways that you can ensure that you are able to clean or restore your photos is by simply hiring a professional. While this method will definitely cost more than if you do it yourself, you are almost certainly guaranteed to have better results than if you do the task yourself.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Sealyham Terrier

Bred primarily for working purposes, the Sealyham Terrier is an avid hunter. He is keen and alert with great determination.

Discover More

Troubleshooting Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are a necessary and essential element for a safe home. But what do you do when these vital safety devices ...

Discover More

Taming Your Frizzy Hair

You can tame your frizzy hair by just setting aside about twenty-five minutes. With just a little bit of time and hardly ...

Discover More

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Like New Bona's hardwood floor cleaner is the #1 choice of professionals. The no-residue formula is specially designed to be safe for floors, families, and the environment. Check out Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Houseplants

Without spending much time you can have shiny, healthy looking houseplants. Houseplants are rarely dusted and cleaned, ...

Discover More

Save Time when Cleaning

You can save time while cleaning by making sure you always have the right supplies with you. You can make sure of this by ...

Discover More

Things to Clean Before Moving In

Moving into a new apartment or home can be both an exciting and daunting event. Exciting because you are getting a new ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 9 + 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.